Bastarda on designing type that sits between formal and informal

The calligraphic style known as bastarda sits between refinement and informality – a fitting namesake for Bogotá-based type foundry Bastarda, co-founded by Seb Castellanos de la Hoz and Jason Guzmán. One founder arrived self-taught; the other returned from an MA programme with academic rigour. This combination of perspectives shapes everything about their practice, from their approach to custom typeface design to their observations about Latin American type culture. With plans to expand to Montreal and ambitions reaching toward Asia, Seb and Jason discuss their workflow essentials, the challenges of building a type-focused business in a market where font piracy remains common, and why Latin American type design tends to mix more stylistic elements within a single typeface. TBI: Jason and Seb, how’s things? B: All good! Everything’s running smoothly – enjoying the moment, having a good time, and really diving into our projects. And of course, listening to music. Right now we’re actually listening to the new album by Ela Minus, an artist from Bogotá. This past year has been incredibly interesting. We’ve met many people and visited other countries, which inspires us deeply. Travelling is a luxury we constantly chase.